ould uncover laws of harmony and proportion. In the fall of 1499 Leonardo left France and headed to Florence. There he painted paintings such as, Battle of Anghiari a mural that was painted for the Council Chamber of Town Hall, the famous portrait named the Mona Lisa, and Leda and the Swan. Leonardo used everything he learned from nature and science to paint these paintings. He used shadowing effects to make these paintings look solid and lifelike. While painting Leonardo not only tried to show what his subject looked like, but he also tried to show their mental state of mind. In June 1506, Leonardo returned to work in Milan for the French government. Leonardo's scientific research began to dominate his activities, this led to scientific illustration through his drawings. In 1513 Leonardo went with Pope Leo's X's brother, Giuliano de' Medici, to Rome. While in Italy Da Vinci became engrossed in theoretical research. Da Vinci stayed in Rome for three years and then left never to return. Once Leonardo left he became an architectural advisor to King Francis the 1st of France. At the age of 67 Leonardo died on May 2,1519 but he and his art work will never be forgotten.The Mona LisaIn 1503 Leonardo was asked by Francesco del Giocondo to paint a portrait of his wife, Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa is considered to be one of the worlds best known paintings. The Mona Lisa is a portrait of a woman who is wearing a dress and a heavy cloak made out of a velvety material. A vail drapes over her head matching her dark brown hair and clothing. She is sitting in front of a landscape that has many valleys of water and many tall mountains, which creates a misty background-the sfumato effect. One of the reasons the painting is famous is because the artist, Leonardo Da Vinci, painted his subject with a smile that radiates many feelings- such as dignity and calmness, giving her a sense of mystery. This painting is not only famous but important...
